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Driver Surrenders In Olympia Fatal Hit-and-run

July 12, 2005

A man has turned himself in for investigation in a fatal hit-and-run crash on the northwest side of Olympia, a Washington State Patrol spokesman said.

The 20-year-old man from Olympia went to Thurston County sheriff's deputies Tuesday night, asked to speak with the State Patrol and was arrested by troopers.

The police then took him to jail for investigation of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, trooper Johnny R. Alexander said.

Investigators also moved to impound a dark-colored 1983 Chevrolet Blazer that the suspect is believed to have started taking apart for reasons that were not immediately clear.

The case stems from the death of Leonard C. Walden, 58, who was hit Monday night while trying to cross busy Cooper Point Road Northwest about 175 from a well-lit crosswalk at the intersection with Kaiser Road Northwest.

Alexander said the man was cooperating with patrol investigators but would not discuss what he had told them about the accident.

Authorities were not immediately able to determine the speed of the vehicle that hit Walden, but it apparently exceeded the posted limit of 40 mph.

Investigators had found nearly 130 feet of skid marks at Cooper Point Road at the scene of the accident.

The man is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday.